Edison Warns of More Shutoffs as National Weather Service Declares a Particularly Dangerous Situation

Although power has been restored in Idyllwild, residents are being warned of another few days of Santa Ana winds, which the National Weather Service has classified as a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS). Jeff Monford, Senior Advisor for Corporate Communications at Edison International, provided updates on the afternoon of Monday, January 13.

“This week, we’re seeing moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds from Monday through Thursday. However, this could change, becoming longer or shorter. We are continuing to notify customers that Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) may be necessary. People in Idyllwild may receive notifications,” Monford said.

“One important note for Idyllwild readers: Some customers who were shut off last week and have since had their power restored may experience shutoffs again. These decisions are based on local criteria, including wind conditions. The air is very dry, there’s been no rain, and fuel sources are highly flammable. If debris becomes airborne and strikes power lines, it can create hazards.”

Monford recommended the SCE website, which allows the public to access current PSPS information: www.sce.com/outage-center/check-outage-status. Users can search by town, zip code, or address. Orange shading indicates areas under consideration, black lines indicate current shutoffs, icons resembling calendar pages indicate scheduled outages, and triangles with exclamation points indicate repairs. Monford noted that SCE prioritizes PSPS information on the maps, so other data may not always be up to date.

Monford said he could not provide specific details about repairs completed during the recent PSPS. Local residents observed SCE crews at work and posted photos of damaged power poles before power was restored, particularly in Fern Valley, which was among the last neighborhoods to have power restored late Friday night. “We are focused on PSPS restorations and the inspections required for every line that has been turned off, regardless of the reason,” he explained.

In conclusion, Monford reiterated a few key points from last week:

• Keep batteries charged, medications organized, and an emergency plan ready.

• Stay at least 100 feet away from any downed power lines and call 911.

• If you receive an evacuation order, GO.

For those not signed up for emergency alerts from the County’s Emergency Management Department, visit https://rivcoready.org/alert-rivco. Timely information is also broadcast on the local emergency radio station, WNKI AM 1610.